If you’re a Detroit Lions fan, you already know Aidan Hutchinson is a problem for opposing offenses. But now, thanks to Jared Goff, we have a better idea just how big a problem he’s become, even in practice.
Appearing on 97.1 The Ticket, Goff didn’t mince words when describing his star defensive end’s dominance.
“It’s like Aaron Donald back in the day,” said Goff. “It’s the same way. He’s a guy who can ruin a game, he’s certainly ruined practice for us a couple times offensively, and I’m so happy he’s on our side and I don’t have to play against him.”
Coming from someone who used to share a locker room with Donald, arguably the best defensive player of this generation, that’s no small compliment.
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The Birth of the “Hutch Rule”
Hutchinson has been so disruptive that head coach Dan Campbell had to get creative just to keep practice moving. According to the Lions’ official site, the coaching staff has implemented what’s now known as the “Hutch rule.”
Here’s how it works: when Hutchinson blows past his blocker and earns what would be a sack in a real game, the whistle doesn’t blow. Instead, the offense gets to finish the play. Why? Because if they stopped every rep Hutchinson dominated, practice might grind to a halt.
Campbell explained it best:
“If you can’t block Hutch and he’s going to blow every practice up, then that’s not good either.”
In other words, Hutchinson’s making life miserable for the offensive line, and that’s exactly what you want from your defensive anchor.
Practice Plays That Don’t Really Count
During a recent situational drill, the Lions offense needed to score quickly. On third down, Hutchinson beat his man and got to Goff for a would-be sack. But in true “Hutch rule” fashion, everyone acted like it didn’t happen so the offense could keep running the play.
Sure, the defense knows they won that rep, but the bigger win is the team getting quality work on both sides of the ball.
Why It Matters for Detroit
Hutchinson’s rise isn’t just about hype. He’s showing the kind of game-wrecking presence that can change an entire season. For a Lions team with Super Bowl aspirations, having someone who draws comparisons to Aaron Donald from his own quarterback is a massive advantage.
And if he’s “ruining” practices now, just imagine what he’s going to do when the games actually count.